<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/09/retailers-join-calls-for-urgent-action-to-restrict-harmful-tuna-fishing-methods>
"Global condemnation is growing at the increasingly widespread use of harmful
“fish aggregating devices” (FADs) in the fishing industry, as retailers
including Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and the German chain Edeka joined calls
for restrictions.
A letter signed by more than 100 NGOs, retailers and artisanal fisheries urges
this week’s meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to consider
proposals by Kenya and Sri Lanka to monitor, manage and restrict FADs. The
signatories warn of an “urgent need” to improve management of FADs in order to
reduce overfishing and rebuild populations of yellowfin tuna.
FADs are floating buoys or other objects that cast a shadow, which attracts
schools of fish. Artisanal fishers, long recognising that fish gather under
logs, have used similar aids for centuries, but the increasing use of
“drifting” FADs by industrial fishing fleets is causing concern among fishery
managers and conservationists.
By casting nets near FADs, vessels can increase their catch, but using the
devices leads to more bycatch, including juvenile tuna that have not had a
chance to reproduce.
Marks & Spencer warned that FADs posed a “serious threat” to the recovery of
overfished yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean. It urged regulators and fishing
nations to adopt measures to restrict and manage the devices, in order to
tackle overfishing, as well as marine plastic pollution and accidental bycatch
of turtles, sharks and marine mammals.
By adding their voices to the overfishing debate, particularly in the Indian
Ocean, the companies join Tesco, Co-op and Princes, who recently called for
tough action to rebuild the ocean’s yellowfin tuna stocks."
Via Glyn Moody, who wrote "EU at fault here too"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
